"My wife Stephanie and I are excited to continue our D-Partner Program in Calgary," said Hamonic. "With the support of MEG Energy, we hope to assist children who are going through the most challenging time of their young life with a memorable experience in hopes of them realizing they're not alone."
"MEG Energy is proud to support initiatives that give back to the community like the D-Partner Program," stated Tara McCool, Vice President, People & Corporate Identity. "We applaud Travis for encouraging youth who have lost a parent to open up to discuss their loss and experiences. His efforts earned him the NHL Foundation Player Award this past summer, and MEG is thrilled to assist Travis in bringing the D-Partner Program to Calgary."
At the age of 10, Hamonic sadly lost his father Gerald to a heart attack. Originally created in 2012 while playing for the New York Islanders, the D-Partner Program has touched the lives of over 200 children who have lost a parent at a young age.
In recognition of his community efforts last season, Hamonic was named the recipient of the 2016-17 NHL Foundation Player Award presented annually to the player "who applies the core values of hockey - commitment, perseverance and teamwork - to enrich the lives of people in his community."
The Calgary Flames Foundation, the charitable arm of the hockey club, is partnering with three local bereavement groups - Hospice Calgary, The Kid's Cancer Care Foundation of Alberta and the Calgary Police Foundation, that will offer the opportunity to children and their families who have lost a loved one.
